The Department of Labor has proposed new rules that would restrict children under the age of 16 from working on a farm or ranch. The list of tasks youth would not be allowed to do is astonishing to me. For example, milking cows would not be allowed, and neither would building a fence. One item that stood out to me was that no youth under the age of 16 would be allowed to use a tool that was powered by any source other than hand or foot power. That would eliminate youth using flashlights, garden hoses (because hoses are powered by water) battery operated screwdrivers, etc.

The mother who wrote this (a fifth-generation hog farmer in Missouri) notes that she cares about the safety of her children far more than any federal bureaucrat in DC, and she, as a mother, should be trusted to keep her children safe.

I spent my high school years in a small town where the biggest paper of the year had huge pictures of all the kids who won ribbons at the county fair with the animals they raised. Sometimes, that required work and tools that the Department of Labor would now ban. Those kids raised those animals, contributed to all of the work that goes into caring for them, and many times would get to enjoy the fruits of their labor with the reward of feeding their families. It seems like some bureaucrat in DC isn’t a fan of such a way of life. As much as the left complains about big corporations and not having family-run farms, they sure seem to be in a hurry to destroy what is left of that culture.

13 Responses to “Helicopter Government”

It is stories like this, that when combined with several other like stories from other governmental agencies, that make me want to puke over our ability to be free.
Dear Mr. GMan, stay out of our lives!!!

Considering this is something that’s not been forced on us with no discussion and they are allowing opponents to speak up and participate in the process, I don’t think you can discredit the benefit of being involved in your community and paying attention enough to stand up for your interests.

Bitter, I appreciate your response:
“Considering this is something that’s not been forced on us with no discussion and they are allowing opponents to speak up and participate in the process, I don’t think you can discredit the benefit of being involved in your community and paying attention enough to stand up for your interests.”

I think we may have passed the point of no return on the “allowing response” thing. When Obama is imposing unconstitutional restrictions on religious organizations, then maybe it’s time to move beyond “being involved in your community and…..stand up for your interests.”

I was under the impression that supporting the Constitution and Bill of Rights was “stand(ing) up for your interests.”

You have to function in a world where not everyone agrees with you politically. Considering this is an executive branch issue, it’s really easy to solve at the polls this year with one simple vote.

Even then, it’s hardly a sweeping done deal. Consider that a branch with checks and balances on the executive is holding a hearing on the proposed rule which indicates that Congress may be willing to step in and fix it. The system is working so far, I don’t get why you’re so keen on pretending it’s not.

I perceive a very major difference of opinion: if the “system is working so far” then a President would understand that he – under the constraints of the U.S. Constitution – has no power whatsoever to impose restrictions or redefinition upon the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution – and he would not have proposed an unconstitutional restriction on religious organizations in the first place. There should be no need at all for other governmental institutions to exercise their authority to stop an unconstitutional encroachment by the executive branch.

You may be willing to see all three branches of the federal government engaged to combat something that should not have occurred in the first place as “the system is working” but I see it as a basic systemic failure very worthy of our complete and diverse attention. The President should understand that he has no authority whatsoever to to impose his desires or wishes upon those things that are constitutionally controlled. That he does not understand that is not an opportunity to hope that the “system is working so far” but one of extreme and dire concern.

Obama is currently backtracking on his latest constitutional encroachment, but I’m quite confident that he will attempt others. You may be willing to allow “the system to work” and grant time for the machinations of the bureaucracy to reach a solution, but I’m increasing concerned about situations in which “the system” is completely ignored in the hope that “the system” can be overcome by whatever means possible.

This is yet another argument for seriously slashing the size of the federal government. We obviously have far too many people sitting at far away desks trying to look busy by continually dreaming up more regulations. And then, of course, we need yet more federal employees to administer and enforce those new regulations.

But, so long as we elect the spineless to the Congress, this is what we can expect…rolling over for the bureaucracy and the pressure groups driving them.

I spent the first nine years of my life on a farm. My three older brothers drove large tractors and operated other large farm machinary. My father could not have operated the farm otherwise. The government is completely out of control.

I spent my highschool years on a farm. I was driving tractors, large farm trucks, and yes my Dad’s Chevy from the age of 14 on without a whole lot of supervision. I had a job to do to help my Dad make things work. I am sooo tired of the Gov’t telling us how we need to live. I love this country but am worried about the future and the direction we are taking. At this point, I’m not sure if even voting is enough to save us.

I did the same, I started working with my Grandfather in his masonry business. He needed the help, I needed pocket money, worked out fine for both of us. And I learned how to do masonry work from one of the best in the business.